Larkham – ‘Fardy form warranted selection’

Fardy has been a regular starter for Australia in the past three years, but lost his starting berth towards the end of the 2016 Rugby Championship.

He has since fallen down the pecking order and uncapped Waratahs duo Jack Dempsey and Ned Hanigan were this week chosen in the squad ahead of him.

"I think his (Fardy's) form has certainly warranted it (Wallabies' squad selection)," Larkham, who is also a Wallabies assistant coach, told NZ Newswire.

"I think he's been one of our stand-out players this year. I think he was man of the match last weekend against Jaguares.

"He's a senior player in our team and he's been doing an outstanding job at all of the duties off the field that a leader has to fulfil; so it's disappointing for him."

And Larkham has revealed that Fardy, who will join Irish powerhouse Leinster later this year, may be on the move to Ireland before the Rugby Championship and that this could potentially be a reason as to why he was overlooked.

"It's something that we've spoke about as a team," Larkham said.

"But kind of understandable in that he's moving on at the end of this year and probably before the Rugby Championship kicks off he might be moving overseas.

"We're not sure in terms of all that yet, but I think that was the main reason why he didn't get picked."